Contact: Audra Jennings 800-927-0517 Ext. 104 or ajennings@tbbmedia.com Visit our website at www.tbbmedia.com Colorado Springs, CO—Books like Crazy Love and Radical top not only the Christian bestsellers lists, but the NY Times list as well. Why? They are books about engaging our communities, impacting our culture and celebrating the Word. This summer, Christian retailers, missionaries in their communities around the world, will gather together to echo their calls. This meeting includes flashing lights, people in costume, roving media and hugs and greetings from those they haven’t seen all year. Their mission field may be different from our typical paradigm of missionary life, yet their ministry is of the utmost importance. These missionaries are Christian bookstore owners, and they are gathering together at CBA’s International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) to network, learn how to be competitive in today’s market and counter the effect that Internet bookselling has on their bookstores. The International Christian Retail Show is the largest annual gathering in the world of anyone and everyone involved in the creation and distribution of Christian products (including music, apparel and films). It’s put on by CBA, the Association for Christian Retail, and is the largest gathering of the year where the industry meets. It also provides excellent interview and story opportunities for all types of media. Many newspaper and magazine writers, as well as television and radio programs, come every year to conduct dozens of interviews in just a few days’ time or to scout for future guests and stories. There is no other time or place where so many Christian people, products, services, media, authors, artists and craftspeople are gathered together in one place. The 2011 ICRS will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, at the Georgia World Congress Center, July 10-13. The theme for this year’s show is “Celebrate the Word, Impact the Culture.” “I am very excited about this year’s Show. We will be showcasing a number of innovative solutions to equip retailers to engage their customers and community members at a deeper level. We’re also opening a few select events to the public to further tell the story of Christian retail and the important role retailers play in helping customers discover life-changing products,” says Curtis Riskey, CBA executive director. The opening session will offer insights into the future of Christian stores and the Christian consumer with a special welcome from CBA leaders and a keynote address by researcher and analyst George Barna, the author of Futurecast (BarnaBooks/Tyndale House Publishers, June 2011). The Sunday evening Worship Him will offer a time of praise and worship led by special musical guest Nicole C. Mullins. The exhibit floor, filled with more than 300 vendors, will be full of activity as old acquaintances reunite and new friends meet. The Show itself includes worship, idea exchanges for retailers, industry awards recognition, workshops, celebrity autographs and a host of receptions and events sponsored by various exhibitors. Private rooms and other interview spaces are made available for media to talk with the hundreds of authors, recording artists and other personalities and experts who attend ICRS. Attending authors and artists will be addressing many issues and hot topics ranging from persecution of the church and the Middle East to sex trafficking and international adoption. A listing of authors and artists available for interviews will be sent to media who pre-register and will be updated leading up to the Show. Media registration is live through the Show Web site at www.ChristianRetailShow.com. The ICRS will provide exposure to the whole industry—new concepts and trends, a global vision, cutting-edge training concepts, merchandising ideas and much more! It is the place to be if you want to meet and interview the next generation of Christian authors and artists. Updates of the latest information and artist additions will also be sent via Twitter and Facebook. http://christianretailshow.com http://twitter.com/CBA_ICRS http://www.facebook.com/ICRShow Media registration is now open! Click here to register. |